Government email IPs can end up on blacklists for the same reasons as any other sender, including spam complaints, compromised systems, poor security practices, outdated configurations, and lack of proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). These blacklists, while not always blocking mail directly, list IPs based on published criteria. The impact on deliverability can be severe, leading to emails being marked as spam, blocked entirely, damaging sender reputation, and hindering communications. Smaller mailbox providers rely on blocklists for filtering, while larger providers may use them for information gathering. Multiple RBL listings can significantly decrease deliverability. Monitoring blacklists, adhering to email sending best practices, maintaining a clean email list, and managing IP reputation are crucial to prevent blacklisting.
10 marketer opinions
Government email IPs often end up on blocklists for the same reasons as any other sender, including spam complaints, compromised systems, and poor email practices like outdated configurations and lack of proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). A blacklisted IP can severely impact deliverability, leading to emails being marked as spam or blocked entirely, thereby damaging sender reputation. Larger mailbox providers might use blocklists for information gathering while smaller providers rely on them for filtering. Maintaining good IP reputation, monitoring blacklists, and adhering to email sending best practices are crucial to prevent blacklisting and ensure reliable email delivery.
Marketer view
Email marketer from EmailQuestions.com shares that government IPs end up on blocklists for the same reasons as any other sender: spam complaints, compromised systems, or poor email practices. They may not have the same level of email expertise or resources as private companies.
8 Jun 2024 - EmailQuestions.com
Marketer view
Email marketer from Web Hosting Talk Forum mentions that government email IPs might be blacklisted due to outdated configurations, lack of proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), or because they send bulk emails without proper opt-in procedures.
1 May 2025 - Web Hosting Talk Forum
4 expert opinions
Government email IPs are sometimes blacklisted for reasons similar to any other organization, including compromised systems, poor security practices, and failure to adhere to email best practices. A key contributor is often authentication failures (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and unmanaged sending infrastructure. While some blocklists are merely informational, others directly impact deliverability by leading to emails being blocked or marked as spam.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks clarifies that blocklists don’t block mail, but list IPs based on published criteria.
26 Jan 2025 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks notes that some blocklists are treated as information sources and listings on them are important, but may not cause delivery problems beyond a few private domains.
26 Apr 2024 - Email Geeks
5 technical articles
Government email IPs, like any others, are listed on blocklists for sending spam, hosting malware, or engaging in malicious activities. Multiple listings on RBLs significantly decrease email deliverability as mail servers use these lists to filter spam. Following best practices, like proper authentication and list management, is essential to avoid blacklisting. DNSBLs are queried by mail servers to decide whether to accept or reject email. Tools like MXToolbox's blacklist checker can help identify if a domain or IP is listed, enabling prompt action.
Technical article
Documentation from Microsoft states following email sending best practices, including proper authentication and list management, can help avoid being blacklisted and improve deliverability to Outlook.com and other Microsoft services.
1 Jul 2021 - Microsoft
Technical article
Documentation from MXToolbox shares that using their blacklist checker tool can help identify if a domain or IP is listed on any major blacklists, allowing for prompt action to resolve the issue.
4 Aug 2023 - MXToolbox
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